Log In
Register
Read the original blog post
9.08am
12 April 2012
Offline
One of my favourite beatles song, i think it's the best ballad they have ever made.
And that's why I think this: The verse: Very good lyrics I think they sound a bit philosophical. The melody is very good too, it sounds a bit like The Long And Winding Road , but i'd say a bit better. The bass line by george is far superior to the bass line by john in The Long And Winding Road . The teamwork between bass, piano and strings is amazing, the strings sound better than in any other beatles ballad (and a million better than the spector strings).
Chorus: Now the song sounds a bit like a pop/rock song, but still with an amazing play by the strings. Bass and the new drums are also very good and the piano is still very suitable.
All in all I think Golden Slumbers is a very awesome song, what do you mean to it?
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
10.24am
26 March 2012
Offline The lyrics weren't written by the Beatles. It's a traditional lullaby. Paul was sitting at his father's piano and saw the sheet music for it sitting there and liked the lyrics, but he couldn't read the music so he made up his own melody.
Still, it is a beautiful song.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
1.17pm
12 April 2012
Offline I thought just the lyrics of the chorus were from the old song and he wrote the verse himself but I'm not sure (anyway the end of the verse and of the chorus is the same)
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
6.49pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline 
Its a good song but evidence that the individual parts of Abbey Road are less that the whole.
I believe this to be the original source of inspiration for Paul, written by Thomas Dekker (apologies if not, was taken from a quick google search online):
Golden Slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you,
You are care, and care must keep you;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
This is the track that George didnt remember playing bass on.
Here's Take 17 for anyone who hasnt heard it.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Wigwam, Bongo"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
"Don't make your love suffer insecurities; Trade the baggage of self to set another one free" ('Paper Skin' - Kendall Payne)
11.11am
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline This is what I think about when I hear this song.
Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home (We've crossed the line and become older and can't go back to being our old selves playing in Hamburg and The Cavern without all the sound manipulation, mixing, overdubs, etc. I think the Let It Be project helped them see this.)
Sleep pretty darling (THE BEATLES are the pretty darling) do not cry (it won't bring the good times back; it isn't worth the effort)
And I will sing a lullaby (I will sing US to *sleep*...and sing a song to let the fans know this party is ending.)
Golden Slumbers fill your eyes (the success of gold records, and just being richer than they ever imagined)
Smiles awake you when you rise (the smiles of Yoko, Linda and Heather, etc.)
And, yes, it makes me want to bawl my eyes out.
The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:
Beatlebug, MarthaCan buy Joe love! Amazon | iTunes
Check here for "how do I do this" guide to the forum. 
(2017) 
(2018)
2.15pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Online
Paul was at his Father's in Liverpool, he was sitting at the piano that had been bought from Epstein's so many years ago, his half-sister's (Ruth) piano book was sitting there. He started flicking through it though he couldn't read music. He half-remembered Golden Slumbers when he found it, this is to the tune he couldn't read...
The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:
Ahhh Girl, Zig, georgiewood, Wigwam, Beatlebug"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
Stay at home, protect your nation's health services, save lives, and do...
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963
3.29pm
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline 
I'd heard the story, but never heard the tune. Thanks! 
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
3.53pm
22 September 2014
Offline I've got to rate that one a little lower than Paul's version. 
I'm going to give it, umm, about 0.
The following people thank georgiewood for this post:
Ahhh Girl, EvangelineI say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake, 1997
6.48pm
17 October 2013
Offline Yes 'georgiewood' I prefer paul's version too........I nearly dropped off listening to this
1.34pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Ahhh Girl said
This is what I think about when I hear this song.Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home (We've crossed the line and become older and can't go back to being our old selves playing in Hamburg and The Cavern without all the sound manipulation, mixing, overdubs, etc. I think the Let It Be project helped them see this.)
Sleep pretty darling (THE BEATLES are the pretty darling) do not cry (it won't bring the good times back; it isn't worth the effort)
And I will sing a lullaby (I will sing US to *sleep*...and sing a song to let the fans know this party is ending.)Golden Slumbers fill your eyes (the success of gold records, and just being richer than they ever imagined)
Smiles awake you when you rise (the smiles of Yoko, Linda and Heather, etc.)And, yes, it makes me want to bawl my eyes out.
Awwww @Ahhh Girl.
I picture a father singing this to his little daughter by her bedside in a small tent, in an encampment for refugees of some war-torn country, after losing her mother and other hard times but with hope on the morrow (or perhaps tomorrow's tomorrow), and trying to reassure her that everything will, in fact, be all right in the end, and go to sleep now. 
My interpretation is less Beatley but just as heartbreaking, in my opinion...
The following people thank Beatlebug for this post:
Martha, Ahhh Girl
6.55am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I doubt there is anything to take from such in actuality but it's interesting to note that 'Two Of Us ' Paul singing the more positive and jovial
"We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home"
whereas in Golden Slumbers Paul sings the rather more sorrowful
"Once there was a way,
To get back homeward.Once there was a way
To get back home.Sleep, pretty darling,
Dot not cry
And I will sing a lullaby"
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Getbackintheussr, Ahhh Girl, QuarryMan, Beatlebug"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
"Don't make your love suffer insecurities; Trade the baggage of self to set another one free" ('Paper Skin' - Kendall Payne)
6.07am
14 June 2016
Offline Good song, however I always get so eager for Carry That Weight to start. 
The following people thank Timothy for this post:
Beatlebug1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
6.28am
26 January 2017
Offline Yeah, I'm always just in anticipation of the horns that echo the melody from You Never Give Me Your Money , the high point of the medley for me.
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
Timothy, ScarlettFieldsForever, Beatlebug“There is no final victory, as there is no final defeat. There is just the same battle to be fought, over and over again. So toughen up, bloody toughen up.” - Tony Benn
2019 BB awards: 
Avatar courtesy of Beatlebug and Ms. Björk Guðmundsdóttir
8.05am
26 January 2017
Offline QuarryMan said
Yeah, I'm always just in anticipation of the horns that echo the melody from You Never Give Me Your Money , the high point of the medley for me.
The guitar solo immediately following is some of George’s best work.
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
QuarryMan, 50yearslate, Von Bontee, Beatlebug"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
12.47pm
14 December 2009
Offline Timothy said
Good song, however I always get so eager for Carry That Weight to start.
Ha, I'm always impatient for "Slumbers/Weight" to end, and for "The End " to begin
The following people thank Von Bontee for this post:
Kaniffee, BeatlebugOne day, a tape-op got a tape on backwards, he went to play it, and it was all "Neeeradno-undowarrroom" and it was "Wow! Sounds Indian!"
-- Paul McCartney
1.12pm
29 April 2019
Offline Von Bontee said
Timothy said
Good song, however I always get so eager for Carry That Weight to start.
Ha, I'm always impatient for "Slumbers/Weight" to end, and for "The End " to begin
Definitely agree with that. The End is my favorite of the medley.
Why yes that is a picture of Paul dabbing. Deal with it. 
2.19pm
15 November 2018
Offline Yeah, a lot of the time I skip Carry That Weight to get to The End (shhhhh don't kill me)
Love one another.
- - -
(I'm Fiddy, not Walrian)
- - -
2018:
2019: 
2.37pm
29 April 2019
Offline 50yearslate said
Yeah, a lot of the time I skip Carry That Weight to get to The End (shhhhh don't kill me)
Aww! But the transition between Carry That Weight and The End is the best part.
The following people thank Kaniffee for this post:
vonbonteeWhy yes that is a picture of Paul dabbing. Deal with it.
3.42pm
26 January 2017
Offline 50yearslate said
Yeah, a lot of the time I skip Carry That Weight to get to The End (shhhhh don't kill me)
I promise I won’t kill you but I can’t guarantee I won’t shame you 
SHAME SHAME SHAME
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Beatlebug, Beatlebug, Beatlebug, Kaniffee"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
4.32pm
26 January 2017
Offline Yeah, a lot of the time I skip Carry That Weight to get to The End (shhhhh don't kill me)
Nooooo! Admittedly, the chorus of Carry That Weight is the worst part but the horns and the guitar solo are the peak of the medley
“There is no final victory, as there is no final defeat. There is just the same battle to be fought, over and over again. So toughen up, bloody toughen up.” - Tony Benn
2019 BB awards:
Avatar courtesy of Beatlebug and Ms. Björk Guðmundsdóttir
1 Guest(s)